Seasons Greetings!

With the New Year just around the corner, Natalie and I, along with JP and Cammy, wish you all the merriest of holiday seasons. Camp is only six months away and we can't wait!

Winter Images

A couple of years ago during a holiday visit to camp, this was the shore of Cass Lake. The ice had heaved three to four feet high along the shore just next to Cass Court. That's Natalie and my brother Roger.







The temperature reached -34 degrees during our visit. Roger peeled off this chunk of Cass Lake ice. I think he made a table out of it.

Philatelic Findings

Sometime last year as Natalie and I were labeling and stamping the CHIPS newsletter, I decided that I was tired of seeing those flag stamps. Don't get me wrong, those stamps are nice looking, but it became a bit boring to always see the same stamp over and over again. Thus, you may have noticed that each issue of the CHIPS newsletter arrives with a different stamp. My brother Roger and I used to collect everything from coins to comic books, stamps included. It was fun and maybe that's why I like the myriad of different stamps that are available. If anyone is out there collecting stamps now, I'll do my best to send you something new every couple of months.

Return to the Seal River

The rumors are true! Summer 2007 will mark a return for Chippewa canoes to the Seal River in northern Manitoba for the first time in 12 years. Pretty amazing. A talented crew of senior campers are returning to paddle the Seal. This is the northernmost trip that Chippewa offers, culminating with a paddle on Hudson Bay. A real adventure is ahead.

No Electric Outlets Around Here

A fellow camp director recently recommended a book by Richard Louv called Last Child in the Woods. Mr Louv is an advocate for children finding experiences in the outdoors and he links many of today's childhood difficulties to the absence of nature in childrens' lives. On one of the early pages he has included a quote from a fourth grader:

"I like to play indoors better 'cause that's where all the electric outlets are."

I can't wait to get back to camp.

Ordering Canadian Trip Maps

I'm often asked if campers can order a set of maps for their Canadian trips. The short answer is : absolutely. In fact, I think it is a great idea to bring a set of maps with you to camp if you know which Canadian trip you are headed out on. Though we try to provide a copied set for each sternman on our longer trips, I always liked having my own set that I could mark with portage points, rapid notes, campsites and other points of interest. Even if you aren't able to get maps before a trip, you can always order a set after your trip. (Hey parents, what a great gift idea!)

Several companies offer maps, but I have found World of Maps (800-214-8524) one of the most reliable and easy to deal with. To order your set, you will need to know the map index numbers and scale size. That can be a bit tricky, but lucky for you, this camp director can find those for you. As time goes by, I'll be posting the index numbers for our more popular trips. Maps cost between $8 and $12. To get us started, let's look at the Bloodvein.

Bloodvein River Trip map numbers:
For large scale 1:250,000 maps
52N (Trout Lake)
52M (Carroll Lake)
62P (HLCLA)

For smaller scale, more detailed 1:50,000 maps. (We typically use 1:50,000 maps on all but our Hudson Bay trips)
52N-4
52M-1, 2, 7, 6, 5, 12
62P-9, 8, 10, 15

Have fun!

The Blog Has Arrived

I suppose it was only a matter of time before Camp Chippewa entered the blogosphere, so here we are. Actually, it was a fairly simple decision since this is an easy way to share news about camp. What kind of things will you find here in the coming weeks? Well, plan on seeing general updates about what's new for the coming summer, ideas for finding information about canoe trips, equipment suggestions, Mary's recipes, travel information and, of course, an occasional rant from me, the camp director, or maybe even JP or Rob. In other words, lots of good stuff about anything related to camp!

Check back often and we'll be sure to keep the information flowing. Fair winds a-stern!